Can-seaming machine.



No. 800,424. PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905. 0. S; BEYBR.

CAN SEAMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1902.

3 SHEETSv-SH-EET 1.

FIG. 8.

T IN VENTORQ v By At/omeys;

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WITNESSES: v 1

' No. 800,424. 4 PATENTBD SEPT. 26, 1905.

0; s. BEYBR. CAN SEAMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1902'.

a; +41 I INVENTOR: WITNESSES; 4 I 1 1 72- PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

No'. 800,424. r I

0. s. BBYER. CANSEAMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1902.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIG. 6.

. INVENTOR:

' WITNESSES:

pad, whereupon the can is removed and reing the seaming operation.

operation of the mechanism a seamer, pref- UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

O TO s. BEYER, OF CARLSTADT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO-E. W. BLISSCOMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF, wEsT VIRGINIA.

Specification of 1 Letters Patent.

CAN-SEAMING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed May 3. 1902. Serial No. 105,846-

zen of the United States, residing at Carlstadt,

in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Can-seaming Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making the seams for joining theheads or ends of cans to the bodies thereof. It relates especially to amachine for double-seaming the heads of round or cylindrical;

cans.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of themachine. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a front view in sec tionon the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, showing the machine in operation. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section, on alarger scale, cut generally in the plane of theline 4 4: in Fig. 1 and showing the machine in operation. Fig. 5 is averti-; cal section on the line 5 .5 in Fig. 4, the parts, being shownin the position of rest. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of thesecondary scanner and its carrier. Fig. 7-is a sectional eleva tion ofthe can-clamp-operating cam and its lever. Fig. 8 is a fragmentarysectional front view of the frame, showing means for mounting these'amer-carriers. Fig. 9 is a plan of the delivery-table. I g

The improved machine is of that character wherein the can-body havingits head, placed upon it is transferred by hand or otherwise intoposition on a rotatable disk or pad, which: is thereupon elevated tobring the can-head into engagement with a continuously and rap-' idly.revolving chuck, the disk and chuck to-; gether serving as a clamp tohold the can d-ur-i By the continuedv erably in theoform of aseaming-roll, is pro-. truded and caused to bear upon the flange of thecover to curl it inward and downward beneath the flange of the can andto force both flanges inward toward the can-body. Thereupon a secondseamer, preferably also .aseam: ing-roll, is caused to engage thecan-head and acts to flatten and compress the double seam against thecan-head, which is firmly support ed by the chuck. After the two seamershave receded the can-clamp opens to release the can, preferably by thedescent of the disk or I placed by another to be operated on. The

mechanism for operating the seamers and for controlling the operation ofthe can-clamp is preferably started by the operator, who moves a treadleor other lever for that purpose, and after the series of operationsnecessary to complete the head of. one can these parts preferably cometo rest, although the invention does not exclude a continuous operationof these mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings, let A designate any suitable framework forsupporting the working parts.

In the construction shown this frame is provided with bearings in whichturns a counter-shaft B, having fast and loose pulleys B, driven fromany suitable shaft, and also pulleys B and B the latter preferably astepped-or cone pulley. The upper part of the frame is provided withbearings for a vertical shaft C, designed to be driven at high speed,having a pulley U fixed on it which is driven from the pulley B by meansof a belt a passing over loose pulleys'C G On the lower end of the shaftC is fixed the can-head chuck D, forming the upper disk of the clamp, bywhich the can is held during operation. The lower disk of this clamp isa rotatable pad E, mounted on a shaft F, which ing G on the frame A. Theslide G carries a table H on its upper end, preferably through arms it.Theslide G is elevated to bring the pad' E into operative position inorder to clamp the can :20 between it and the chuck D, as shown in Fig.3. The slide may be variously operated; but in the construction shown itis operated both by the starting-treadle and by a holding anddropping'o'am.

J is the starting-treadle, which'is shown as a lever fixed on a shaft 6,turning in the frame and having an arm I), connected by a rod 0 to anarm d on a rock-shaft K, arranged horizontally in transverse bearings inthe frameA just back of the bearing G. On the projecting ends of theshaft K are mounted arms 6 e, to which are connected links ff,

the lower ends of which are pivoted to a ver tically-movable head L,engaging the slide G. The head L might be fixed to the slide; but as aconvenient means of introducing a yielding medium I prefer to have itslide relatively to the slide G and be connected thereto by too means ofsprings L L, as best shown in Fig. 3. These springs are shown ascompressionsprings confined between the head L and a flange or collar (3which is fixed to the slide Gr, being preferably a set-collar which canbe adjusted thereon to varying heights. The springs are shown asencircling rods or bolts g, which pass down through the head L and haveon their lower ends adjusting stop-nuts g, adapted to limit theexpansion of the springs. It results from this construction that onpressing down the treadle J motion is communicated through the rod 0,arm (Z, shaft K, arms a e, and links f f to raise the head L, which,moving upward, compresses the springs L, whereby the pressure of thesesprings is made effective to raise the slide G until the can placed uponthe pad E is forced up against the chuck D, whereupon the furthermovement of the treadle and head L is taken up by compression of thesprings L. To provide an adjustment between the treadle J and head L,the arm (Z is made adjustable relatively to the shaft K, so that thisshaft, with the arms 0 e keyed to it, may be turned to bring the head toany desired height and then fastened to the arm d in any suitablemanner, as by a set-screw. To this end the arm (Z is formed on a hub orsleeve cl, mounted loosely on the shaft K and having an arm (Z adjacentto one of the arms 6 and formed with an arc-shaped slot through which asetscrew 6 passes to fasten the two arms together.

The frame A is provided with a rearward extension A, which may be in aseparate piece bolted to it, as shown, and this rearward extension orbracket provides bearings for two horizontal shafts, the one a wormshaftM, extending from front to rear and hence parallel with the shaft B, andthe other a cam-shaft P, extending transversely. The worm-shaft Misdriven from the shaft B by a belt a engaging one of the cone-pulleys Band a corresponding pulley M on the shaft M. The shaft M has a worm M,which drives a worm-wheelP turning loosely on the shaft P, whereby thisshaft when clutched to the worm-wheel is driven at a relatively slowspeed. The shaft P carries three cams P, P, and P*, which operate,respectively, the can-clamp and the first and second seamers.

To relieve the operator of the necessity of holding the treadledepressed in order to keep the can-clamp properly engaged upon the canduring a seaming operation, I provide means whereby when the treadle isonce depressed mechanism is brought into action for holding the clampclosed upon the can until the end of the operation and then opening theclamp to release the can, or, in other words, for holding the slide Gelevated and then mechanically lowering it at the proper time. This isthe function of the clamp-holding cam P, (see Fig. 7,) which has a notch10,

which in its position of rest receives a roller 11 on the upper arm of arock-lever Q, the lower arm of which is connected by a rod Q to an armQj, fixed on the shaft K. The pressing down of the treadle J acts toclutch the can'l-shaft P to its driving worm-wheel l by any suitableone-revolution clutch, whereupon the shaftP begins to revolve. The samemovement of the treadle in raising the slide G rocks the lever Q, so asto remove the roller 11 from the notch 10 of the cam l. As soon as thiscam begins to revolve its notch passes beyond the roller and itsconcentric peripheral portion bears upon the roller, thereby preventingthe return movement of the lever K and through the connected partspreventing the descent of the slide (1 Hence the cam P acts to hold theslide (1 elevated until the cam has executed one revolution, whereupon(the operator having previously released the treadle) the roller 11falls back into the notch 10 and thereby, through the connected parts,lowers the slide G and releases the can, this operation being completedjust as the shaft P, being unclutched from its drivingwheel P comes torest. For the :uljustment of the exact relation between the cam P androller 11, on the one hand,-and the slide (i, on the other, any one ofthe intervening parts may be made adjustable. Preferably thecounecting-rod Q, is made adjustable in length, as shown.

The one-revolution clutch referred to is located at R to couple theshaft P to the wheel P. As clutches of this character are well known andas the particular construction of clutch is unessential to my invention,1 have not illustrated the clutch in detail. Suiiice it to say that theclutch is controlled by a lever R, operated from the treadle J or anyother starting-lever or movable part. In the construction shown thelever R is operated by a tappet-rod R the lower end of which isconnected to an arm R", fixed on the rock-shaft K. 'hen the treadle isdepressed, the rod hf is pulled downward and engages the lever It, whichit tilts down, so that the upper arm of the lever causes the clutch toengage. At the end of one revolution of the shaft P the clu tch iscaused to disengage itself in any of the known ways, or it may be forcedto disengage by the motion communicated from the cam P to the lever Qand connected parts to the rock-shaft K, whereby the tappet-rod It ispushed upward, so that the lever It is restored to its originalposition, thereby releasing the clutch.

In Fig. 1, S designates the seamer, which usually and preferably isconstructed as a seaming-roll. The machine may have only one seamer; butfor double-seaming two seamers are required, as shown in plan Fig. 4:,where the first is lettered S and the second 8*. These seamers aremounted on slides or carriers (lettered,respectively, 'l." 'l) movablehorizontally in direction from front to rear through aslideway orguide-box z, fastened in the main frame ;A, which is shaped to inclosethis boX, as shownin Fig. 8. At their rear ends the slides carry rollers13 and 14, respectively, Fig. 41, which bear against the cams l? P,respectively. For better guidance the rear portions of the slides workthrough slideways in a projection 15 on the bracket A. As the cam-shaftP rotates the cam P first acts to push forward the slide T to cause thefirst seamer S to act. At about the end of its operation the cam Ppushes forward the slide T carrying the second seamer S to cause thisscanner to act. As the second seamer is pushed forward the first seameris retracted, and finally toward theend of the revolution of the shaftthe second seamer is retracted. The retraction of the slides andscanners might be accomplished by suitable engagement with the cams P orP or other camsin any way'known to mechanics; but I prefer toretractthem by springs, for which :purpose each slide T or T is providedwith a projection 16, which receives the pres.-

.sure of a spring 17 Fig. 5, partly housed in a recess in the upper partof the projection '15. Preferably a screw-stud 18 projects through ahole in the projection 16 and serves as a guide for the spring whichencircles it.

The seamers may be given any relative or 5 actual movements desirablefor performing any given class of .work, and to this end the cams P Pmay be varied or substituted, as occasion may demand. For ordinarycanseaming, however, it is preferable that the first seamer shall advance'gradually, so as'to gradually turn the flange of the can -headwhich is rotated against it, the seamer finally remaining stationary forsomewhat over one revolution. Thereupon the second seamer,

being advanced, should engage the can and roll down the seam during oneor more revo-.

lutions. In'the particular construction shown the first seamer actsduring about ten-revolutions and the second seamer during the fol- Therelalowing three or four revolutions. tive conformation of cams P P, bywhich this'result is attained, is apparent from Fig. l

5, where the cam P is shown in'full lines and the cam' P partly indotted lines, both beingshown in the stationary or inactive position. Itis practically desirable that the first:

seamer shall be unyieldingly supported, while.

at the same time it is important that the sec ond seamer shall besupported in yielding, manner, so that it may compensate for varyingthicknesses of metal and, so that the necessity for extremely niceadjustment may beavoided. It is also desirable that both seam. ers shallbe mounted adjustably, so that they may be set forward or back, so as toaccom modate different-sized cans. :To this latter end both the slides TT are made in-two sec tions which are relatively adjustable. This isclearly apparent from Fig. 6, which shows the slide or carrier .Tdetached. Each slide the part that slides through the boxz' and theprojecting front end of which carries the seamer-roll, and a rearsection 20,which works in the guide 15 and carries the cam-roller 13 or14. These two sections are connected by means of a screw, whereby theymay be adjusted. For the slide T this screw 21 (see Fig. 5) ispreferably right and left threaded and engages right and left femalethreads in the sections 19 and 20, having a nut 23. pinned to it, bymeans of which it can be turned, and having set-nuts 24 24:, which whenthe slide is extended are set against the sections 19 and 20,respectively. The screw for the slide T is marked 22 (see Fig. 6) andscrews into the section 19 thereof, having also a nut 23 pinned thereonby which to turn it and a set-nut 24:. Its other end passes through athimble 25, which isscrewed into the section 20, and the screw is headedwithin the thimble, its head receiving the pressure of a stiff spring26, housed in a socket in said section 20. This spring is stiff enoughto keep the head pressed normally firmly against the thimble 25, so thatthe slide holds the seamer S to its work until it meets a resistanceexceeding the stress of the spring, whereupon the spring is compressedso that the seamer yields.

For seamingany given size of cans the canclamp comprising the chuck Dand disk or pad E must be shaped to conform to the size and outline ofthe respective ends of the can, the chuck D, as usual, entering withinthe recess in the upper head, while the lower disk is shaped toengageand center the lower end of the can. The slide Gr, carrying the disk Eand table H, is to be set to such height that when lifted it willelevate the caninto engagement with the chuck D and in addition willcompress the springs L to any desired extent. This adjustment is made byloosening theset screw of the set-collar G and moving the slide G up ordown within it to the desired height has accordingly a front section 19,which is 1 and thereupon retightening the set-screw,

The seamers S S are to beset forward or backward to adapt them to theprecise diameter of the can to be'seamed. To insure. the correctengagement of the seamers with the 'flange on the can-head, the chuck Dis made vertically adjustable by means of a screw 1', Figs. 1 and 2,screwing through a cross-head k and engaging the upper end of the shaftC, by which to raise or lower this shaft. The precise mode of itsengagement is not important, but may be made-with a head 1', as shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, engaged within a cap Z," screwed upon the upperendofthe shaft. In operation the can-body, with it's head placed uponit, is set upon the disk E. The op-ia erator then presses down thetreadle J, which, as-described, lifts the slide Gr, thereby elevatingthe can until its upper end is pressed firmly against the chuck D, whichis rapidly revolving. The same operation starts the cam-shaft P, whichexecutes one revolution, the first efiect of which is through the cam Pand lever Q, to hold the slide G pressed up. Immediately thereafter thecam P moves the seamer S forward and causes it to gradually turn in theflange on the head and curl it under that on the body, and thereupon toturn in both flanges, whereupon the first seamer recedes, and the secondseamer having meanwhile advanced engages the can and rolls the seam downflat. Thereupon the second seamer recedes and the cam P releases theroller 11 of the lever Q, permitting the roller to enter its notch, andthereby to lower the slide G, which descends to its original position,and finally the cam-shaft P, having completed one revolution, comes torest. The operator then pushes the seamed can out of the way, usually bythe same movement by which he advances the next can into place to beseamed.

It is desirable to quickly dispose of the cans which have been seamed,and to this end Iutilize the whirling motion that they retain afterbeing discharged from the canclamp to insure their being forcibly thrownbeyond the machine. To accomplish this, the table H is made with anelevated wall or upturned flange m at one side, preferably the rear, sothat as the can in is pushed off the disk E it engages this wall, and byreason of its spinning motion in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 9it is caused to roll along the wall, and thereby acquiresaconsiderableimpetus in the direction of the arrow (0, whereby it isthrown out to the left of the machine and to a suitable distance to beclear thereof. It is found that the spinning motion causes the can totravel back toward the wall m; but if under any circumstances it isfound that this is not its tendency the operator can easily give it aslight obliquelybackward push, which will accomplish this result.

My invention issusceptible of considerable modification withoutdeparting from its essential features. Many of the features ofconstruction and arrangement which I have described, although desirableand convenient, are by no means essential and may be greatly varied ordeparted from. For example, while the arrangement of the maindriving-shaft or counter-shaft B with bearings in the main frame andnear the base thereof is desirable, various other arrangements mayreadily be substituted. Also for securing the high speed of the chuck D,which is preferably about twelve hundred revolutions per minute, and thelow speed of the cam-shaft P, preferably about sixty revolutions perminute, the driving of the former directly by a belt from the main shaftB, while the latter is driven through a worm, is a convenient anddesirable construction, but may readily be substituted by other means ofdriving. of the table H on the same support as the freely-rotating diskor pad E is not essential, but is adopted for convenience andsimplicity. The interposition of the rock shaft K and its connectionsfor communicating motion between the treadle or operating lever J, therising-and-falling slide Gr, the can-clamp-holding cam P, and theclutch-operating lever R is also a convenient, compact, and desirablemeans, but is not essential, and may be substituted by other mechanicalconnections. The carrying of the seamers upon slides arranged to move instraight lines at the rear of the can being seamed is a simple,convenient, and desirable arrangement whereby these parts are compactlyhoused and out of the way, although readily enough accessible; but otherarrangements for suitably carrying the seamers and communicating to themthe motion imparted by the cams may be substituted. Other means forproviding the desirable adjustments may be substituted. The arrangementof the operating-lever J near the floor as a treadle is preferable, butthe lever maybe otherwise arranged.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a can-clamp comprising arotating chuck and disk, of a vertically-movable slide connected to thedisk, means for lifting said slide including a horizontal rock-shaft Khaving an arm connected to said slide, a lever having an adjustableconnection with said shaft, and a movable member connected with saidlever and adapted to be displaced to move the latter.

2. In a can-seaming machine, the combination with a rotary can-clamp, oftwo slides each comprising a bar adapted to be moved lengthwise, aslideway through which said bars move, the latter being arranged side byside in said slideway, seamers mounted upon and supported solely by saidbars, and rotating cams adapted to engage the rear portions of saidslides and move them toward the can to cause said seamers to act uponthe latter.

3. In a can-seaming machine, the combination with a rotary can-clamp, ofa seamer, a

' slide carrying said seamer, and a rotating cam arranged to act againstthe rear end of said slide to push it forward and cause the seamer toact upon the can, a slideway through which said slide works, and aspring adapted to be compressed between said slide and slideway as theformer advances, whereby the slide is pushed back after each advancemovement, said slideway being formed with a socket adapted to receivesaid spring.

4. In a can-seaming machine, a seamer, a slide carrying the same, and acam for operating said slide, the slide constructed in tworeverselyscrew-threaded sections, a screw connecting them having reversethreads, whereby the slide can be adjusted in length,

The mounting by rotation of the screw, and means for holding the partswhen adjusted.

5. Ina can-seaming machine, a seamer, a slide carrying the same, and acam for operating said slide, the slide constructed intwo sectionsrelatively movable, one of which is formed with a socket, a springconfined therein, a rod having a headed end in said socket bearingagainst said spring, and a thimble surrounding said rod and screwed tosaid section, said rod connected to the other of said sections.

6. In a can-seaming machine, the combination with a can-chuck, of twoseamers, movable parts carrying them,'and mechanism for moving saidparts adapted to first advance the first seamer slowly to act upon thecan to turn ;in the flanges thereof, and before the first seamer isretracted to advance the second seamer into engagement with the can,then to retract the first seamer, and after the second seamer has rolleddown the seam, to retract the second seamer.

7. In a can-seaming machine, the combina tion of two seamers, movableparts carrying them, and cams acting against said parts for advancingthe seamers, adapted tov first advance the first seamer, andsubsequently to advance the second seamer, and after the latter isadvanced to retract the first, and finally to retract the second. i

8. In a can-seaming machine, the combination of two seamers,longitudinally-movable slides carrying them, and cams acting against theends of said slides to move them, the slide carrying the primary seamerbeing adapted to rigidly communicate the thrust ofthe cam to saidseamer, and the slide carrying the secondary seamer being formed in twoparts, and a spring confined in one of said parts and reacting againstthe other, whereby to yieldingly communicate the thrust of the cam tosaid seamer,whereby the primary seamer acts unyieldingly to turn theflanges, and the secondary seamer acts yieldingly to roll down theseam..

9. In a can-seaming machine, the combination of two seamers, parallelslides carrying them, cams acting against the ends of said slides tomove them longitudinally toward the can, and a slide-box held in theframe of the machine opposite the can, and forming a slide a set-screwfor fastening said slide-box therein, and a slide movable in saidslide-box.

, 12. In a can-seaming machine, the combination of an upright framehaving a rectangular opening through it, a slide-box fitting andfastened in said opening, said slide-box formed with sides and a bottom,and having a removable top, and a seamer-carrying slide movable in saidslide-box.

13. In a can-seaming machine, the combination of a standard having ahorizontal opening through it, a rotary can-clamp opposite said opening,parallel slides passing through said opening and having seamers at oneend, and earns carried by said standard on the side opposite saidcan-clamp, and adapted to coact with said slides tocause the seamers toadvance and retreat.

a I 14. In a can-seaming machine, the comblnation with a rotarycan-clamp, of a table having a wall against which the rotating can whenreleased from the clamp may bear, whereby to cause the can to beprojected out of the machine.

15. In a can-seaming machine, the combination of a can-clamp comprisinga rotating chuck and a relatively movable rotative disk, a slidecarrying said disk, and a table carried by said slide having a wallagainst which the rotating can when released from the clamp may bear,whereby to cause the can to travel horizontally out of the machine.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OTTO S. BEYER. Witnesses:

FRED. H. MOGAHIE, WM." BURKHARDT.

